Blanket holder



Sept. 23, 1952 J, STRAKA 2,611,165

BLANKET HOLDER Filed Nov. 1'7, 1949 Application November 17, 1949, serial'Np. 127,966

1 claim. (c1. tzr-7.2.5)

My invention relates to a novel-'adjustable clamping device for releasably securing fabrics and the like and more particularly' my device relates to a clamp which isA especially'adapted to releasably and adjustably retain blankets or bed covers in position on a bed.

To my knowledge until the invention of my novel clamp no satisfactory method for securing blankets and the like in the desired `position on a bed has been known.

The device which I have invented although primarily intended for use upon beds which are occupied by children, invalids and restless people may easily and obviously be utilized in other manners and it should be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the useof my novel device to use for securing blankets and bed clothing. It is an object of my device to provide an adjustable fabric clamping device which may be adjusted to clamp the various thicknesses of fabrics -without distorting the device and without tearing the fabric units' which are secured or held.

Other and further objects of -my-invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and numerals of reference thereon.

YOnthe drawings: v, Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation oLmynovel clamping device and taken on a piane of the line I-I in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional view taken "on-.the plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and looking in thedirection loi? the arrows.

Fig.'3 is a front elevational view of my novel device. V- V Fig. 4 is a side taken on the same plane as the view of Fig. 1

and illustrating the position ofthe elements is in open and non-clampmanner of use of my device is illustrated and numeral I designates a bed end including a pair of legs II and a connecting tie or rail I2 and including a plurality of vertically disposed horizontally spaced slats or supporting elements I3 which connect the tie I2 and the upper portion of the connected together legs II. Numerals I4 elevational View of my dce designate the usual pair of bed railsnwhichare illustrated as being connected at one end t the legs II. Numeral-I5 designates a pairfof transversely extending supports which are supported by the rail I4 and which in turn support a mattress or the like I6. Numeral I1 which'is illustrated'in Figs. 1 and;5 designates a plurality of blankets or fabric units which are retained-by my novel device to be hereinafter described as illustrated.

To anchor my device to the bed frame a. suitable anchor or connecting tie or loop I8 which` may be of Va fabric or elastic-constructionv is suitably retained on portions of the bed frame such as rails I4 and the vertical ties' I3,y as illustrated in Fig. 5.- The upper end of the cord or tie I8 is looped through a portion of my novel device as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 and at I8'a in Fig. 6.

More particularly with reference to my'novel clamp, numeral I9 designates an angularly bent yoke which may be of metal wire orother suitable construction.)v The' `yoke I9- includes.y an inter` mediate substantially V-shaped' portion comprising apair of outwardly extending legs20v and 2 I. An integral and upper portion 22 of the leg 2i" extends inwardly as villustrated in Figs. 1 andi` and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3v saidfportion 22 is preferably ofsquare or rectangular crosssectionto retain the sleeve or bushing 23, to be hereinafter described, from undesirable rotation. It'will be understood, however. that I do not* limit my invention to the particular shape of theextension 22 as equivalent means may be utilized to retain the sleeve 'orbushing 23 from undesirable'movement.

" The bushingV or sleeve 23, previously designated; in one form of my invention-has an en' larged partially enclosed chamber 24 and has external threads 25. The sleevey or bushing. 23 has'v an outwardly extending end flange or Vlip designated as 26, and has an inwardly extending ange 29 which denes a square hole oropen# ing through which thefeXtension-22 extends 'as' illustrated in Fig. 2.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, adjustably and threadingly mounted on the sleeve or bushings 23 is a ball, pressure head or block 21 which is internally threaded as indicated vat 28. The pressure block or head 21 cooperates with an integral eyelet or socket ring 3D which is integral with and carried by an upper portion of the angularly extending leg 20 to releasably retain fabric units or blankets designated as I1. It will be understood that I can adjust the space between the end 4 so thatthe head 21 and other elements to be hereinafter described may be assembled. After assembly of head or block 21 and said other elements to be hereinafter described, the yoke I9 is preferably placed in a die and forced into the permanent position illustrated in solid lines in l Fig. 4. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4,v a cam having an integral handle vor' shank portion 3l comprising a pair of side flanges 32 ispivoted to the angularly bent leg I9 by means of a'pair of bosses or lugs 33 which are integral with respective anges 32 and which extend inwardly in aligned positions into the curved recess formed by the juncture of the arm 22 and the leg 2 I. The upper vportion 34 of the handle 3| is formed withA l. and 4, said spring at one end being in kabut-QV ment with the inner surface of the ange .29 and the other end being in abutment with a washer 31 .or the like which I secure in position on one end of extension 22 by iiattening the end ofy said. extension 22 as illustrated at 38 in-Figs. 1 and 4. Additionally, the cam is preferably retained in its position on the yoke. I9 independently of any pressure exerted by sleeve 23.=.,Such retention results from the limitation of longitudinal movement of pivot 33 vby the curvature of the upper portion of arm 2I. 1t will be seen therefore that as I move the lever handle. 3I to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the sleeve or bushing 23 carrying the adjustable pressure head 2.1 will be slid inwardly to impinge the fabric units I1 between the ring 30 and the head 21, and as I move the lever handle to the position illustrated inFig. 4, the sleeve or-bushing23 will be carried outwardly byvirtue of the action of spring 36 to release retained fabric elements or the like. To keep the cam faces 35 from spreading,.the.end por-tion of nange 2B is preferably flat,.as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 so that said faces will uniformly engage flange 26.

vAs illustrated in Fig. 6, a modified clude the connector I8a, yoke I9a, extension-22a,v

formof my invention may be used when optionallyrdesiredbushing 23a, head 21a, and ring 30a and are substantially similar to corresponding elements designated in the main form of the device hereinabove described. It will be noted, however, that the bushing or sleeve 23a is press-fit on the square extension 22a so that said bushing or sleeve 23a will not rotate or move longitudinally. In this modified form of the invention I rely solely vupon the adjustment of the internally threaded head 21a with respect to the externally threaded sleeve 23a to'dmpinge `or release the fabrics retained between the head 21a and the "ring 30a.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and as many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention, within the scope of theclaims could be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as i1- lustrative and not in a limiting sense.

In a clamping device lfor sheet material, al stiff wire-yokecomprisingapair of 4integral legs disposed angularly with -respect to each other, one leg having a wire ring at its outer end, the other leg having at its outer end an extension projecting toward and co-axial with and spaced from said ring, a cup-like member telescoped about said extension, with. the rim of said member between said ring and the base of said member, a spring conned between said base and the inner end of said extension and biasing' said member away from said ring, a head threaded to and about said member and having a rounded-v end between said extension and said ring, and releasable means engageable with said base for moving said member toward said ring against the resistance. of said spring to bring said rounded end into proximity to said ring vto thereby pinchf sheet materialv peripherally in the annular space REFERENCES CITED y The following references are of record in the 1 file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 309,687 Bower .'Dec. 23, 1884 359,833 Basinger Mar. 22, 1887 Y 684,866 Ringdahl Oct. 22, 1901 757,451 Germain Apr. 19, 1904 785,432. Perkins Mar, 21,A 1905 p 329,118 v Meek .Aug.'21, 1906 1,049,642 Baesel Jan. '1, 1913 .1,944,603 Hecker Jan, 23, 1934 2,343,699 Petersen Mar. "7, 1944. 

